Record View: Amazon morally obliged to pay up their share of tax
WHEN public spending is being slashed in a way that punishes the poor, every firm have a moral obligation to pay their fair share.
AMAZON are taking an ever bigger share of the shopping market.
Technological advances mean you can order something from their website late at night from your phone and have it arrive at your door the next morning.
Nobody can doubt the convenience or the efficiency of the service.
But there have regularly been doubts about the business practices deployed by the multi-billion-pound company.
An investigation published over the summer highlighted some real concerns about working conditions in the firm’s massive Dunfermline warehouse.
And they are one of several companies – including Facebook, Starbucks, Amazon, Google and Vodafone – who have come under fire for tax avoidance.
But the online giant made a welcome change earlier this year to avoid a
Government clampdown on multinationals that funnel sales through tax havens.
Now money from all UK customers will be registered here – instead of flowing straight into Amazon’s European headquarters in Luxembourg.
This should be great news for the Treasury as British consumers spent £5.3billion with the cyber superstore last year.
But Amazon UK chief Christopher North said that did not mean they would suddenly pay more corporation tax because profits could be offset by the cost of expanding.
We will need to see more detail, but Amazon can be sure their accounts for the year will be scrutinised very closely.
When public spending is being slashed in a way that punishes the poor, every firm have a moral obligation to pay their fair share.
Amazon should be no different.
Steeled for the fight
IT is do-or-die time for the Scottish steel industry.
If the two remaining plants owned by Tata are allowed to close, it is finished.
Manufacturing expertise honed and perfected by generations of Scots will be lost forever. And communities in Motherwell and Cambuslang will be devastated.
The UK Government urgently need to look at the problems the industry faces. Cheap steel from China and other nations must be stopped from undercutting local plants.
But it will inevitably fall to the Scottish Government to intervene.
Nicola Sturgeon and her colleagues must do everything they can to save 400 jobs – and protect one of Scotland’s proudest industries.
Comrade in arms
WELL done to Chris Wieczorek for doing his bit to help out his fellow former squaddies.
The ex-soldier now has a booming property business but has remembered to give something back to those who are struggling.
Former soldier John Paul Gillespie has had his life turned round after moving into a dazzling new Falkirk flat.
The army rely on everyone helping each other out. It’s great to see Chris take that philosophy on into civilian life.
